It took a few more minutes to get to the end of the tunnel, which opened up into a nice little sitting room, with several book shelves that held my family's history, their secrets, whatever anyone wanted to know about us was here. It took a few hours for them to find out what they wanted to know about us. My siblings and I had already read all of these years ago, so we busied ourselves by simply watching their reactions, some of which were very interesting.
"That was, um, boring!" Kevin commented, putting a book back on the shelf.
"It was a good story." Kelly said joining us, "Kev just hates reading."
"Depends on the book!" Kevin retaliated.
"Comic books don't count."
Kevin opened his mouth to continue, but Caleb cut him off. "Come on you two." He sighed, rolling his eyes.
They always start fighting over the littlest things.
Yeah, I know the feeling. I laughed, remembering the many times that we had had arguments, friendly arguments like Kevin and Kelly, about little things. A small laugh escaped him as well.
"Now then," Luke said, the last to join us. "I don't suppose we could get a tour of the castle?"
"Not tonight, well, actually, now it's morning. And we do have to go to school." I replied, causing a little ripple of groans.
As we started to walk down the hallway again, Caleb popped into my mind again.
That reminds me, where were you first block? In class of course.
No you weren't!
Yes I was! Just not as myself! There was a short pause before he continued.
The reporter? I nodded and we continued on silently.
We reached the exit shortly, that's when the newest problem arose. "Uh," Caleb said without really thinking about what he was thinking. "I think our homes are more than 300 feet apart."
"Well, that leaves two options." Erik began, "You could find a way to cut the distance, or you could cut the connection, but don't forget about that final detail."
"I won't." I replied hurriedly as everyone else filed out the portal home. "See you tomorrow." The portal closed, I could make a new one.
"What detail?" Caleb hissed at me. I had to concentrate to keep myself from shrinking away from his cold aura. But I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eyes.
"I sort of thought it was a minor one, and wouldn't really matter." I began, my eyes staring past him at neck level, he was tall. "The connection can only be used between two people once, in other words, once it's removed it won't return."
Several long seconds past before he replied, I knew it wasn't an unimportant detail. I hoped his reply would tell me a little bit more about him, but all he said was, "Oh." And it hurt, he was disappointed. The hurt confused me, this all confused me, I didn't want to care like this, it would end badly!
What would end badly? Caleb interrupted my thoughts.
I think we should keep the connection. Uh, nothing, nothing will end badly! I tried, and probably failed, to smile. Then it dawned on me that his tone that his thoughts sounded like was different, as if he was trying to calm a hurt child or something.
I think we should end it. As a matter of fact I think we should all pretend this never happened. His eyes widened when he realized that I was serious.
No, you said that both minds must be in agreement. I say it stays, so it stays. I didn't really like how he had made it sound like it was final, like he got to make the decision, which right now he kinda did I guess. "Why?" I asked aloud, tired of our arguing now. It had given me a headache.
He hesitated for a second before continuing, "Well, your mind interests me."
I glared at him, but he ignored it. "You are really stubborn aren't you?"
"Me? You seem more stubborn than I!"
"Hardly! What have I been stubborn about?"
"The secrecy thing. The refusing to talk to me after I found out part of your secret. And several things before all of this started!" He looked satisfied when my face turned to surprise, but I wasn't surprised for what he thought I was surprised for. I was surprised that he had noticed what I did before all this started. "What about me?"
"Well, let me see. You were pretty persistent about me eating or drinking something on that first day," That made me pause for a moment when I remembered a thought that I had had that day."
You were happy that it was me who you thought saved you? Caleb interrupted the memory.
Yes, but I want to know the truth about the next part. I then remembered the thought of if it was him who had knocked me out.
Silence.
So, it's true. I sighed, staring at my feet.
He sighed as well.
Yes, I was the one who knocked you out, and the one who blocked your power and paralyzed your body…
Why? My thought had an edge of desperation, I didn't want him to be my enemy.
Wait, you knew I had powers? Yes, I could sense your powers… I interrupted again,
What did I look like? I didn't know it was you. I had already changed by then?
Then who was the other person and why did you do what you did?
I don't know who the other one was, but I knocked you out because I sensed your power. I kidnapped you because I wanted to know if you were friend or foe. Our conversation was cut short when someone cleared their throat nearby. We turned and found mother staring at us with raised eyebrows as she leaned against the wall. Apparently she'd been watching us glare at each other for the last few minutes.
"Vi? Would you mind introducing us?" She asked
"Uh, this is Caleb. Caleb, this is my mother," I paused and then added, "the queen."
Should I bow? Caleb asked in my mind.
It would be the polite and appropriate thing to do at this time. He bowed a stiff, quick bow.
"Pleased to meet you, your highness." He said while bowing.
I don't suppose I'm supposed to bow to you because you're a princess?
No! I hate all that formal junk! Please just act normal to me.
Good! I wasn't planning on bowing to you. "Violet? Why can't I hear his thoughts?" Mother asked, a little frustrated. She was eyeing Caleb suspiciously.
"Well, Erik's and my powers are protecting his and his friends' minds." I replied.
"That wouldn't matter, he is in my castle and he is not royalty. I should be able to hear his thoughts and I know you didn't purposefully create a barrier that strong, it would waste too much of your energy."
"I can hear his thoughts just fine…"
"You linked your minds together?"
"Yeah, and now we are cut off from everyone else."
"I see. Caleb, you need to go home and get some rest, same goes for you, Violet."
"That's the problem, our houses are too far apart, the connection won't let us. Mind if we barrow two rooms?"
"Violet, you know that this is your home too, and the rooms are always open to you and your friends as needed." She said and then pulled me over and talked in a voice was for my ears only. "But are you sure about him?"
"Yes, I trust him." I replied in the same tone. She gave me a look to say that I better be sure, then she straitened up and started down the hallway again.
Should I say anything? Caleb asked in my mind.
Perhaps something to get her to stop giving me that look?
Better not, just act humble. Besides, she only thinks you're a spy.
Lovely. The thought was very sarcastic.
Trust me, it could be worse.
If you say so. "That is really annoying." Mother commented, stopping near the end of a hallway. "That whole not being able to hear the conversation thing, that is. Violet, you take this room and Caleb, you may take that room across the way." She then turned and left, probably to get a guard or two to watch the rooms.
I am laying down one rule, please avoid mirrors! I mentioned as I shut the door behind me.
Same to you. I then started ignoring his thoughts, just in case.
